Clutch plate



July 31, 1945. G. l. eooowm 2,330,835

CLUTCH PLATE I v Filegl Sept. 20, 1946 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 5:13;INVENTOR. Geo/39a] Goada/ua WQMMW ly 1945- cs. 1. GOODWIN 2,380,835

CLUTCH PLATE Filed Sept. 20, 1940 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

George I 5004601172, I

July 31,1945. v e. I. eoonwm CLUTCH PLATE Filed Sept. 20, 1940 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

I July 3 1, 1945. G. I. GOODWIN 2,380,835

CLUTCH PLATE Filed Sept. 20, 1940 5 Sheets-Shet 4 J0 29 J0 .v

' INVENTOR. 6607 el Goadwaz y 5 1945- s. I. eoonwm 2,380Q835 CLUTCHPLATE Filed Sept. 20, 1940 s Sheets-Shet 5 INVENTOR.

5607:96Z Goada/ua Patented July 31, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT ornegf.oLUmita'm I -re LGeodwimnen-oiem Application September 20, 1940; SerialNo. 357,620

21 Claims.

This invention has to do with clutch plates of the type in which aresiliently ing structure is employed adjacent the periphery of theplate between the annular friction facings, and is particularlyconcerned with clutch plates of this type in which the friction facingsare mounted on special driving members which are secured to and projectoutwardly from the center portion of the plate.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved clutch plate ofthe type described in which the special driving members on which thefriction facings are mounted are so arranged as to constitute atruss-like formation.

Another object is to provide such a construction in which the samerivets or other attaching means can be employed for securin the drivingmembers of both facings to the center portion of the clutch plate.

Another object is tion in which the to provide such a construcdrivingmembers ar inlaid within substantially V-shaped locking grooves in theinside or non-friction surfaces of the fac-"" Another object is toprovide such a construction in which the driving members are so shaped,and relieved portions in the facings are so located and shaped in themolding process of the facings, that the driving grooves in the facingsmay be rapidly and economically finished to exact size by milling,drilling; or other approved machini method.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clutch plateof the type described having a cushion member provided with amultiplicity of wave formations which afford a multiplicity ofsupporting points for both facings, with attaching means for fasteningboth facings to opposite sides of the cushion member, and with thecushion member so formed that the normal expansion of th cushion memberwhen being without causing any relflattened out may occur ative movementbetween the facings.

Another object is to provide such a clutch plate in which the cushioningmeans, in addition to being deformed to afford the desired cushioning,is bowed in a direction circumferentially of the assembly to drawtogether the facings attached to the same on opposite sides thereof,with a certain amount of initial tension.

A still further object of the invention is to provide driving meansforithe facings which are made out of spring metal and are so, shapedthat an axially flexible but circumferentially rigid driving connectionis provided.

yieldable cushion Other more specific objects and advantages .of theinvention will be evident to those skilled in the art upon a fullunderstanding of the improvided clutch pla 9 Several differentembodiments of the invention are presented herein for the purpose ofex-' Fig. 1 is a partially broken away face view of a V clutch plateconstructed invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and through the clutch respectiveLV on the 20 Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary inside face view of one of the annular frictionfacings in the clutch plate of Fig. 1, with the cushioning members anddriving members removed;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the same facing, as viewed from the line 6-8of Fig. 5;

Fig. 'l is an opposite edge view of the same feeing, as viewed from theline 1-1 of Fig. 5;

30 Fig. 8 is a section, taken on the line 8-8 of 8.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5:

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line Iii-i0 of 35 Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a face view of one of shaped driving members;

Fig. 12 is an edge view of shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a face view of a strip of metal, showing how the drivingmembers can be cut to advantage from the metal with the grain of themetal extending in the same direction in all of the driving members;

Fig. 14 is a face view Of tutes a part of the center plate;

Fig. 15 is a section through the same disk, taken on the compositeradial line lQ-ii of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a face view of one of the cushion members;

Fig. 17 is a radial section cushion membe taken on Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an edge view in accordance with the plate shown in Fig. 1,taken lines 2-2, 3-4 and 4-4 of the 898C151 'V- the driving member thedisk which constiportion of the clutch through the same the line "-11 of66 of the cushion memmbodiments are intended to be 4 are enlarged radialsections another clutch plate which ing Ills supported and driven ber,showing the min which the same bowed circumferentially to the facing:which are attached to opposite sides at circumferentially spaced pointsto be forced towardeach other; Y '1 Fi 19 is a face view of a strip ofmetal, showing the way in which the aseaess cushion members may I be cutto advantage from the strip;

Fig. 20 shows the'inner side of one of the facings in a modifiedembodiment of the invention, with one of the driving membersin position,and with the disk towhich the driving member is attached shown butfragmentarily;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary inside face view of the facing shown in Fig.20, after the same has been molded but before the same has been milledto provide the grooves for the reception of the legs of the drivingmembers;

Fig. 22 is a radial section through the same facing; taken on the line22-22 of Fig. 20; a Fig. 23 is a partially broken away face view ofembodies a further modification of the invention;

Fig. 24 is a section through one of the facings of the plate shown inFig.23, taken on the line 24i3s of Ma. 23;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary inside face view of I one of .the facinss in afurther modified clutch plate, showing a different form of drivingmember;

Fig. 26 is a face view of a modified cushion member, for optional use inconnection with the invention;

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary inside face view of another modified facingconstruction, in which the drivins members are fitted and secured withinthe driving grooves by a self-tightening arrangement,

one of the driving members being illustrated in position prior to beingtightened; I

Fig. 28 shows the same driving member after being tightened;

Fig. 29 is i Fig. 30 is a similar section, taken on the line 30-30 ofFig. 28;

Fig. 31 shows" a modified self-tightening 8brangement, in' which theattaching rivets act' to spread the interlocking surfaces of the drivingmember into engagement'with the edges of the driving groove;

Fig. 32 shows the same driving member-after the interlocking surfacesthereof have been spread: 4

mg. as is a section, taken on the -line ee-Js of I'lg. 3.2;and Fig. 34shows a modified formof the driving member 'of Fig. 31, in which theedses of the a section. taken on the line 28-29 of a and i6 are-inlaidwithin shukl the assembly is subjected in service. As the vshapeddriving members rcan be made quite thin areconnected at need have onlyavery small tween the grooves 20 and 2| the inside surface an ofthev-shsn 111m:

ll-the less of erably lapped with each the tabs by common attac drivingdriving members H are attached at their apexes to the facing I! byrivets members II are attached at their apexes to the facing It byrivets is. ,The driving members are preferably made of spring metal, andare preferably bowed initially toward each other at' their outer ends,as illustrated in Fig. 12, whereby to created. uniform pre-load pressureon the facings, which pressure will act against the opposite sides ofthe hereinafter described cushioning means and will tend to urge thefacings as close together as possibleon the interposed cushioning means.

' The outer portions of the driving members ll fitting andcircumferentially interlocking V-sha'ped grooves II and 2| formedrespectively the inside non-friction surfaces'of the facin l2 and II.This interlocking e agement absorbs both circumferential and radialstresses, thereby in large measure relieving the rivets from thestresses to which in view of the circumfer ential rigidity obtainedtion, the clutchplate from their; angular dis 4 spinning inertia. Be-

' of the friction fa'cings l2 and l3'may be additionally grooved out, asat .22, thereby further lightening the assembly and affording numerousair es to facilitate rapidcooling. The grooves v22 permit circulation ofair even when spreadable portions. of the same are serrated to edges ofthe driving groove.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in- Figs. 1 to 15- inclusive,"aclutch plate isshown which includes a huh I. a disk II- which is mountedat its center on the hub.'and"two annular friction facings I! and .IIwhich are located beyond the outer 'Deripherrof the disk. "facing II' issupported and driven by. a-plurality .of V-shaped driving members l4.while the fac- V-shaped driving members ll. "The driving members II andII alternate about the-circumference of the assembly, the outer portionsofembedwithin the material of the facing at the j byla plurality of.

themembersil beingaxiallyoifsetinonedh" rection intothe plane oftheinside surface of the facing II, and the outer portions o'f-thememthecushion members are fully compressed. The

E. i his:

intervening is, while the drivingradial deformation employed to give therequisite cushioning. These cushion members 23 are each attached atcircumferentially spaced points to both of the faclngs l2 and I3, one ofthe cushion members being attached at its center to one of the facingand the next cushion member being attached adjacent its ends to theother facing. The cushion members are preferably attached to the facingsby the same rivets l8 and I 9 that are used to attach the drivin membersl4 and [5 to their respective facings. The off-center positioning of theconcentrically arranged peaks and valleys of the wave convolutions inthe cushioning members will enable the latter to expand radially as theplate is compressed without shearing the facing rivets l8 and l3this inspite of the fact that the cushioning members are attached to bothfacings and at the peaks of spaced convolutions. The cushion members 23,in addition to being deformed axially as shown in Fig. 17, are alsopreferably bowed circumferentially, as shown in Fig. 18. By riveting thecenter of the cushion member to the facing from which it is initiallyspaced by reason of such bowing, the facings will be initially drawntoward each other as the bow becomes straightened out in the assemblyoperation, thereby creating a force tending to cause the facings to snugtightly against the opposite faces of the cushion members. By formingthe bend lines in the cushion members concentrically with respect toeach other about centers which are offset with respect to the center ofthe assembly, the flattening out of the cushion members duringcompression of the plate will not be interfered with by the fixedlocations of the attaching rivets l8 and l9-the cushion membersexpanding and contracting radially adjacent their opposite ends and atthe same time skewing slightly about the rivets in such manner as toavoid binding on the rivets.

The cushion members 23 may be cut advantageously from a strip of stockin the manner indicated in Fig. 19, thereby eliminating any substantialwaste of stock and maintaining the direction of the grain of the stockunchanged in all of the cushion members. The driving members l4 and I5may likewise be cut advantageously from a strip of stock, in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 13, without appreciable waste and without any changein the direction of the grain in the Stock.

In the modification shown in Fig. 20 the grooves 25 in the insidesurfaces of the facings, provided for the reception of the apexes of theV-shaped driving members 26, are cut in the facings by a millingoperation, and the milling tool is set on such a radius as to out two ofthe grooves at the same time, thus materially reducing the number ofmilling-out operations. Prior to the formation of the grooves 25 thefacings preferably have molded into the same enlarged entrance grooves21 (as shown in Fig. 20). These entrance grooves 21 are preferably widerand deeper than the grooves 25, with the result that the close fit ofthe driving member 26 can be obtained in the milled grooves 25 at allpoints adjacent the apexes of the members 26 while allowing a certainlatitude of movement of the legs of the driving members in the entrancegrooves. This clearance about the legs of the driving members at thepoints where the legs enter the closely fitting milled-out grooves 25reduces the necessity of close tolerances throughout the entire lengthsof the legs and at the same time allows some freedom of movement of thelegs adjacent their ends with respect to the inner edges of the facings,which freedom of movement facilitates flexing of the legs axially of theassembly during compression of the peripheral portion of the plate.

In the modification shown in Fig. 23 the positioning and close fit ofthe driving members 28 within the grooved-out portions oi. the facingsis obtained by first molding a V-shaped groove 29 in the facing, thendrilling out circular recesses 30 about the edges of the molded groove29 and then providing the V-shaped driving members 29 with circularembossments 3|. of such size as to fit tightly within the drilled-outrecesses 30. In this manner an extremely close fit can be obtained withsmall circular drilling or counterboring operations.

- A somewhat similar modification is shown in Fig. 25. In thismodification a relatively large and deep semi-circular recess 32 ismolded in the facing and a single semi-circular recess 33 is drilled inthe outer portion of the molded recess 32. The driving member 24 isprovided with semicircular legs. The legs of the driving member 34 fitloosely within the molded recess 32 and the driving member is providedwith a semi-circular projection 35 at its apex which fits tightly withinthe drilled-out recess 33.

- In Fig. 26 is shown a modified cushion member 36 in which the bendlines are not only concentric with each other but also concentric withthe assembly, and in which a tongue 31 is cut at the center of thecushion member for the reception of one of the attaching rivets, therebypermitting flattening and radial expansion of the spring member withoutunduly stressing the spring member at the locations of the rivets.

In the modification shown in Figs. 27 to 30 inclusive a close fit of theedges 38 of the driving member 39 with the opposed edges 40 of thedriving groove in the facing is obtained by the employment of'fiexibleexpansion means and the action thereon of the attaching rivet 4| inbeing set. The outer portion of the driving member 39 is made slightlywider than the corresponding portion of the driving groove, is providedwith a slit 42 parallel to one of its edges, and is initially bowed,with the high point of the bow at the location of the hole 43 for therivet 4|. When the rivet 4| is inserted and set, the bow in the drivingmember will flatten out, forcing the edges 38 of the driving member intoclosely fitting engagement with the edges 40 of the groove in thefacing. The slit 42 will allow the engaged edges of the driving memberto yield slightly, whereby to effect a tight, but not overly, tight,fit. This self-tightening arrangement permits of rapid and economicalmanufacture of the plate and assures a good fit between the drivingmembers and the grooves in the facing irrespective of slightmanufacturing variations.

A modification of this self-tightening arrangement is shown in Figs. 31to 33 inclusive. In this embodiment the interlocking edges 44 of thedriving member 45 are formed on separate tangs 46 and 41, and theconfronting edges of these tangs contain semi-oval shaped recesses 48and 49, which recesses are initially separated from each other adistance which is somewhat less than the diameter of the attaching rivet50. When the rivet 50 is inserted it will cam the tangs 46 and 41 awayfrom each other and into ti ht engagement with the edges 5! and 52 ofthe driving groove in the facing, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 32.

In Fig. 34 a somewhat similar self-tightening driving member 53 is shownprovided with serrations in its driving edges 54 and 55, whichserrations will embed themselves in the material of the facing when thetangs are forced apart.

I claim:

1. In a clutch plate of the type characterized by a disk, and a pair ofannular friction facings beyond the outer periphery of the disk,cushioning means between the facings, and structurally separate drivingmeans for the cushioned facings comprising a plurality of drivingmembers which are connectedat their inner portions to the disk and attheir outer portions to the facings and which are characterized bystrap-like portions which are arranged angularly with respect to theradii of the clutch plate passing through the driving members.

2. In a clutch plate of the type characterized by a disk, and a pair ofannular friction facings beyond the outer periphery of the disk, aplurality of generally V-shaped driving members which are connectedadjacent the ends of their legs to the disk and adjacent their apexes tothe facings, and means between the facings for cushioning the same.

3. In a clutch plate of the type characterized by a disk, and a pair ofannular friction facings ,beyond the outer periphery of the disk, aplurality of generally V-shaped driving members which are connectedadjacent the ends of their legs to the disk and adjacent their apexes tothe facings, with the apexes of the driving members offset axially inopposite directions for connection with first one facing and then theother.

4. In a clutch plate of the type characterized by a disk, and a pair ofannular friction facings beyond the outer periphery of the disk, aplurality of generally V-shaped driving member which are connectedadjacent the ends of their legs which are connected adjacent the ends oftheir legs to the disk and adjacent their apexes to the facings, withthe portions of the driving members adjacent their apexes inlaid withinopen V- shaped grooves formed in the non-friction surfaces of thefacings, in closely interlocked association with said grooves.

6. In a clutch plate of the type characterized by a disk, and a pair ofannular friction facings beyond the outer periphery of the disk, aplurality of curved driving members which ar connected at their innerportions to the disk and at their outer portions to the facings, saidfacings being provided with curved grooves for the reception of thedriving members, and certain of said grooves being arrangedconcentrically with respect to each other.

7. In a clutch plate of the type characterized by a disk, and a pair ofannular friction facings beyond the outer periphery of the disk, aplurality of driving members which are connected at their inner portionsto the disk and at their outer portions to the facings, with the outerportions of the driving members inlaid within open grooves formed in thefbn-frictlon surfaces of the facings in closely -interlocked associationwith said grooves and with the portions of the driving members'inzwardlyof the aforesaid portions inlaid withinfloosely fitting inwardextensions of said groovesf 8. In a clutch plate of the ypecharacterized by a pair of annular friction facings, a plurality ofarcuate cushion members positioned between the facings, each of saidcushion members being deformed axially along arcuate bend lines, whichbend lines are concentric with each other but eccentric with respect tothe center of the clutch plate, and rivets which connect each cushionmember with both facings, said rivets passing through different bendlines of the cushion member and being arranged equidistant from thecenter of the clutch plate.

9. A sheet metal cushion member of uniform thickness, for use in aclutch plate, said member being curved back and forth along arcuate bendlines to provide a multiplicity of arcuately shaped supporting areas,said areas being concentric with each other but eccentric relative tothe center of said plate.

10. For {use in a clutch plate, a cushion member having a multiplicityof arcuately shaped concentricwaves with at least two wave peak pointsextending to one side and at least one wave peak point extending to theopposite side, and rivet holes in said peak points for use in securingthe cushion member in place, said waves being eccentric with respect tothe center of the plate.

11. A segmental clutch driven plate cushion member adapted to besymmetrically arranged with other like cushion members about the centerof the plate, which is initially distorted into a wave form having amultiplicity of arcuately shaped waves, which waves are concentric witheach other but are eccentric with the symmetrical axis of the segment.

12. A clutch driven plate friction member. having at least two arcuatedriving abutments for coaction with as many different driving members,which abutments are so arranged as to form arcs of the same circle.

13. A clutch driven plate friction member, having recesses formed toconstitute driving abutments for coaction with as many different drivingmembers and other relatively large connecting recesses in which the saiddriving surfaces terminate.

14. A clutch driven plate friction member. having driving recesses forcoaction with as many different driving members and also relievingrecesses which are circumferentially wider thansaid driving recesses.

15. A clutch driven plate friction member. having driving recesses forcoaction with as many different driving members and also relievingrecesses which are axially deeper than said driving recesses.

16. For use in a clutch driven plate assembly having an annular frictionmember, driving means for carrying said friction member, said meansconstituting a two-legged truss, said legs being disposed in the planeof rotation of the plate and diverging inwardly at a point outwardly ofthe inner edge of the friction member.

1'7. In a clutch driven plate, driving means for supporting a frictionmember, said means being generally V-shaped and disposed in the plane ofrotation of the plate, with its wider portion inwardly for attachment tothe central portion of said plate and its narrower portion outwardly forattachment to said friction member.

18. For use in a clutch driven plate assembly having a friction member,driving means for the friction member, the side edges of said meanscooperating with a recess in said friction member to form a drivingcontact, and certain portions of said driving means being expandableduring assembly to form a driving engagement with said recess.

19. For use in a clutch driven plate assembly having a friction member,driving means for carrying said friction member, and rivets forconnecting said driving means to said friction member, said drivingmeans including flexible expansion means actuated by the setting of therivets for effecting a tightly interlocking con- 20. For use in a clutchdriven plate assembly having a friction member, driving means forcarrying said friction member, and rivets for connecting said drivingmeans to said friction member, said driving means including flexibleexpansion means actuated by the setting of the rivets for effecting atightly interlocking.connection between the driving means and thefriction member, said flexible expansion means being actuated by theclamping effect of the rivets.

21. For use in a clutch driven plate assembly having a friction member,driving means for carrying said friction member, and rivets forconnecting said driving means to said friction member, said drivingmeansincluding flexible expansion means actuated by the setting of therivets for effecting a tightly'interlocking connection between thedriving means and the friction member, said expansion means beingactuated by a camming efi'ect of the rivets.

v GEORGE L GOODWIN.

